7 traditional Hispanic games

From children’s activities to games for all ages, here are seven traditional games that Hispanic families play.

When Hispanic families get together for game night or another celebration, there’s no shortage of traditional games to play. Some reflect Mexico’s rich heritage, while others originated with other cultures.

From a game sometimes called Spanish Bingo to a traditional party activity, here are seven games that bring Hispanic families together.

1. Lotería (lottery)

A Mexican game of chance, Lotería is a bit like Spanish Bingo but with cards, not balls. 

Originating in 15th-century Italy, the game spread to Mexico’s elite in 1769 and eventually to the public at fairs and festivals. It soared in popularity in 1887 when printed and distributed to Mexican soldiers who played it to pass the time. 

Designs on 19th-century cards, like el soldado (the soldier), reflected the country’s identity. Modern versions honor this tradition; Millennial Lotería, for instance, has cards like la hashtag and la selfie. A 2019 Google Doodle allowed internet users to play the game online. In 2023, CBS aired six episodes of a new game show “Lotería Loco,” starring actor Jaime Camil.

How to play

Equipment:

• Lotería tablas (boards) with 16 random images in a 4×4 grid
• Deck of 54 lotería cards, each with a different image
• Pennies, crown corks, pinto beans, popcorn kernels, or another marker

Rules

The caller picks a card from the deck. Each card is called one by one. Players with those images mark them off their tablas.

The winner is the first player to complete the predetermined pattern on their tabla—row, column, diagonal, four corners, or pozo (four in a square)—and shout “¡Lotería!“

2. La Pirinola

Played with a traditional Mexican six-sided top, la pirinola is also known as the toma todo game. It’s a popular diversion for all ages throughout Latin America with roots in Ancient Rome. It’s similar to the dreidel game, played during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.

Along with playing the game, families with young children can turn the activity into a fun art project using cardboard, a pencil, and a printable tomo todo game.

How to play

Equipment:

• La pirinola

• Beans, candy, or another small token; 10 for each player

Rules

All players (two or more) put one token in a pile. Players take turns spinning la pirinola. When the top falls, the player follows the instructions on the side landing up:

• Toma uno (take one)
• Toma dos (take two)
• Toma todo (take it all) – ¡Qué bien! 
• Pon uno (put one)
• Pon dos (put two)
• Todos ponen (everyone puts one in the pile) – ¡Ay, no!

The winner is the player who collects all the tokens.

La pirinola or the toma todo game is played with a six-sided top. (Rodrigo Tejeda/CC BY-SA 2.0)

3. Los encantados (the enchanted)

Los Encantados is similar to the North American game freeze tag. Often played at Hispanic family gatherings and schools, it has existed for decades in some form or another for many cultures worldwide.

How to play

Equipment:

• None

Rules

Players break up into two teams. One player is chosen from each team to be the charmer. That player chases the players on the other team. Anytime the chaser touches someone from the other team, that player is charmed and must freeze until uncharmed by a player from the same team.

If all the players on one team are charmed, the other team wins. 

4. Policías y ladrones (cops and robbers)

Possibly evolving from los encantados, policías y ladrones is a chasing game best played outside. Like los encantados, versions of this hero versus villain game are played in almost every country.

How to play

Equipment:

• None

Rules

Players are divided into two teams—cops and robbers—and a jail is established for the robbers. The cops count to 10, giving the robbers a head start on running away. 

Once finished counting, the cops go on patrol to catch robbers. If a cop tags a robber, the robber goes straight to the slammer. Alas, the jail isn’t escape-proof. Robbers can be broken out if tagged by a fellow free robber.

If the cops put all the robbers in jail, the cops win. If any robbers are free when game time ends, the robbers win.

5. La gallinita ciega (blind hen or chicken)

Known to help young players learn the Spanish language, la gallinita is a popular children’s game in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. It’s said to date back to 19th-century France. 

Though the game is for young players, it’s based on the legend of a French knight who was blinded during battle but bravely continued fighting until his death. The king honored his memory by requiring knights in future tournaments to fight while blindfolded. 

The game eventually came to Mexico. In the U.S., it’s known as blind man’s buff.

How to play

Equipment:

• A blindfold

Rules

One player is designated as the blind hen. That player is blindfolded and then spun around in circles while the players sing: “Gallinita ciega, ¿qué se te ha perdido? Una aguja y un dedal, date la vuelta y lo encontrarás.” In English, this translates to: “Blind man’s buff, what have you lost? A needle and a thimble. Turn around and you’ll find it.”

Now dizzy and blindfolded, the player tries to find and tag the other players. As they are caught, they are out of the game, though they can now use their voices to help the blind hen find the remaining players.

The game ends when the blind hen catches all the players or when time runs out.

6. Piñata

They originated in China and Europe, but piñatas have become so popular among Hispanic families that the game is commonly associated with Mexico. Originally a religious activity, it’s now a secular game played in Latin America and the US during birthdays, Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, and other celebrations.

A piñata is a container made from paper-mâché, pottery, or cloth that is filled with candy or small toys. They can be purchased at grocery or specialty stores or made by hand. Contemporary piñatas range from traditional fiesta stars and burros to well-known characters from movies, television shows, and video games. 

How to play

Equipment:

• A piñata
• A stick or baseball bat

Rules

The piñata is hung around eye level in a spacious area where no one is in danger of getting hit. Players line up for their chance to take a swing at this hanging treasure chest. If it’s at a birthday party, the birthday boy or girl gets to go first. Once a player breaks the piñata open, everyone scrambles to collect the hidden treats that spill out from inside.

Release your aggression and get candy by hitting the piñata at a birthday party or another celebration. (Santiago Filio/Unsplash)

7. Atrapa el sombrero

Iconic Mexican sombreros (meaning shade) may have originated in 15th-century Spain before becoming popular in Mexico. These wide-brimmed hats were primarily worn by cowboys to keep the sun out of their faces.

Though players of atrapa el sombrero can pay homage to Mexican heritage by playing the game with a traditional sombrero, any hat is fine. Players can even make hats out of paper and other materials.

How to play

Equipment:

• A hat for each player

Rules

Hats are tied or otherwise fastened behind each player’s back. When the music starts, players try to steal hats from other players without getting theirs stolen. If a player touches their own hat or the hat is stolen or falls off, that player is eliminated. 

The last two players with hats are declared the winners.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

READ MORE: Online cooking show, lifestyle blog encourage Indigenous ingredients in everyday meals